Morecambe 2 [Old, Stockton] Pork Vale 1

[redrobo]

An excellent first 45 but the predictable onslaught by PV in the second tested our midfield and defensive organisation under DA but they performed very well despite having to defend into the face of the wind.

Once gain Carlos was inspirational and deserved his MoM award.

DA certainly let the 4th official know what he thought of at least one bad decision and I for one wouldn't like to cross him as I suspect neither would the players....

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

I have noticed the lack of Scouser's in our line up. The scouting pool seemed to be mainly the Merseyside area under Jim but as a club, we have had a huge Scouse influence. The team that got out of the Unibond was full of them.

It's all about contacts and DA has operated in different parts of the UK so will hopefully be able to pull players in from different areas. It will be a hard sell but hopefully his reputation will be a big enough draw for new recruits.

One of my sons made an interesting point on this recently. He'd been reading about an interview with John Coleman (I'm not sure where so I can't quote the exact statistics Coley referred to).However what he was saying was that once the number of Scousers in a club reaches a certain proportion you can have major problems. They tend to be very cliquey to the exclusion of non-scousers and this can have a detrimental effect on team morale etc'. So this is an interesting insight from a Scouser about Scousers and as a result he will never go above a certain proportion of them in a club he manages. Not sure if we suffered from this under Jim?

[Ntini]

A really good game last night with positives all over the pitch.

I thought we were set up perfectly, and everyone played superbly first half. With the forced sub to Phillips, I think DA got it wrong bringing on O'Sullivan at that point (not for his performance, just the personnel/positioning). He then rectified that by swapping Slew for Brewitt.

What I was most impressed with last night was our game management. I can't ever remember watching a Morecambe team being told by the ref to speed up in the first half! I liked it when Old went and threw an experienced arm around Lavelle after Sam was pushed/tackled into the hoardings - clearly telling him to look at the big picture when we're 2-0 up and not lose his head. We then played sensibly, holding onto the ball, valuing a pass in midfield and running down the clock, making them work hard to get back in the game.

Overall we deserved the win. It's nice to be walking away from the ground talking about where we're heading, rather than where do we go from here?

[marky No.1]

One question: I've seen a couple of references to Dave/Big Dave. Is this, as it appears, a reference to Toumani Diagouraga, and if so, has he asked for or suggested this name? If it is, and he hasn't, can I suggest using 'Toums' as a nickname,as used in the article about his signing. It just seems a bit 'lazy little Englishman' using a totally English name for a foreigner with a long and clearly foreign name.

He was nicknamed Dave when he played for Hereford against us 10 years or more ago, amazing what a clearout of scousers we've had on the pitch

A reference completely lost on me I'm afraid. Any idea where it originally came from?

A good piece on him here:

https://www.talkingbull.org/hereford-he ... iagouraga/

[marky No.1]

DA certainly let the 4th official know what he thought of at least one bad decision and I for one wouldn't like to cross him as I suspect neither would the players....

His outburst was in regard to how the 4th spoke to him and the words he used, Derek gave him an absolute verbal battering and the official was really put in his place, would make any player take notice

[MfcChris]

5 unbeaten at home! Fortress!

2 unbeaten at home. Let's not get too carried away yet

[BerlinWaller]

Lol 1 defeat in the last 6 then! Derek Adam's Barmy Army

[Freez]

Phil, we called him Big Dave in the commentary last night as he has that nickname from his days at Brentford, Leeds and Plymouth, so who are we to change it!!
Hope that clears it up.
And Cezar Azpilucueta at Chelsea is nicknamed Dave, but not Big Dave.

[Phil Anderer]

Phil, we called him Big Dave in the commentary last night as he has that nickname from his days at Brentford, Leeds and Plymouth, so who are we to change it!!
Hope that clears it up.
And Cezar Azpilucueta at Chelsea is nicknamed Dave, but not Big Dave.

My worry is, Freez, that if, as Shrimpy suggests with Azpilicueta, "that's a bloody well difficult name to say, we'll just call him Dave for short", it potentially could be seen as casual racism. If Toumani is fine with that, then OK, but if he hasn't said as much, I'd much prefer he was called 'Toums' (or Toumi, or some other variation). I want to be clear that I am NOT calling anyone a racist, but I am concerned about how it could be perceived by someone on the outside (or even inside).

[Shrimp Girl]

I agree with PA, needs to be confirmed by the man himself that he is OK with Big Dave.

Besides, if the terrace had called him Dave last night, the reworked Richie Bennett chant wouldn't have worked half as well.

[Vinny]

I'm with you on this Phil. Toums is easy to say and remember.

I also feel uncomfortable with the Ace Scaf chant for Jordon Slew "Sloooooooo" that sounds like he's being booed! How can that be an encouragement for the player?

[RapidShrimp]

I'm with you on this Phil. Toums is easy to say and remember.

I also feel uncomfortable with the Ace Scaf chant for Jordon Slew "Sloooooooo" that sounds like he's being booed! How can that be an encouragement for the player?

It’s only like when everyone shouts “SHOOOOOOOOT” - the lads know it is in support - I can’t imagine Slew actually thinks he’s getting booed!

On the ‘Dave’ thing, I think there’s been a bit of an overreaction. It’s not offensive in any means and there’s certainly been no problem in the past when other fans have called him that. I highly doubt Toumani will be bothered - I’m sure he’ll have heard worse...

[Freez]

No offence intended, and we are now in an age where everything and anything is construed as racist or cultural appropriation by some unfortunately.
I doubt he gives a fig, but I’ll try and find out. I tend to use Carlos in commentary also, as it’s quicker to say, so Big Dave is the same, it’s quicker and used as a term of endearment.

[black morse]

I must admit that in the cricket when the fans are shouting Roooooooot!! it does sound like booing to me but I'm sure Joe knows it's not. Probably the same with Sloooooo!

[HALMA 1983]

I'm with you on this Phil. Toums is easy to say and remember.

I also feel uncomfortable with the Ace Scaf chant for Jordon Slew "Sloooooooo" that sounds like he's being booed! How can that be an encouragement for the player?

I thought it was enpowering, getting his own chant from the faithful and he's only been at the club 5 minutes
Love the Steven Old chant, a real 80's classic